UTSA women to face a UAB team ‘feeling good about themselves’

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Fighting through the “dog days” of the American Conference schedule, the UTSA Roadrunners women are looking to find some consistency when they play on the road tonight against the last-place UAB Blazers.

The Roadrunners (10-10, 5-4) tip off against the Blazers (8-13, 1-8) at 6 p.m.

UTSA split two games at home last week, building a double-digit lead against North Texas and then holding on for a 66-64 victory and then playing on even terms for a half against first-place Rice before ultimately falling, 65-55.

“I thought last week was a good week for our team, obviously a good win against North Texas and then kind of equally disappointing against Rice,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said. “But we’re in the dog days now and we have to turn the page and get to the next game.”

Coach Randy Norton’s Blazers (8-13, 1-8) endured hard times to start their conference schedule with eight straight losses before playing well and winning 83-65 on the road last weekend at Wichita State.

Guard Cali Smallwood scored 25 points in the performance, knocking down seven of 12 shots from 3-point distance.

“Their record is not indicative of how they’ve played,” Aston said. “They had a new team and obviously had to find some chemistry and get used to conference play, so to say. But they had a big win on Saturday, and just to get that one over for them probably gave them a lot of confidence.

“I would think we’ll roll in there with them feeling pretty good about themselves.”

Records

UTSA 10-10, 5-4
UAB 8-13, 1-8

Coming up

UTSA at UAB, Tuesday, 6 p.m.
UTSA at Tulsa, Saturday, 2 p.m.

With a road test looming at South Florida, UTSA’s Claunch brushes off questions about his job

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UTSA coach Austin Claunch. Tulane beat UTSA 85-52 in American Conference men's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA coach Austin Claunch dismisses the idea that he would like to turn the season around so that he can quiet speculation about his job status. Rather, he says he wants it as a reward for his players, who have worked hard enough to deserve it. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The questions for UTSA men’s basketball coach Austin Claunch keep getting tougher and tougher.

Even though his team played a more competitive brand of ball twice in the past 10 days, the Roadrunners lost twice at home, once by six points to Temple, and then by 10 to UAB, extending a troublesome, program-record losing streak to 14 games.

By the weekend, a story was published in the San Antonio Express-News that suggested his job might not be secure. Claunch, in the second year of a five-year contract, said Monday he wasn’t surprised to be asked about it.

“We’re in a competitive sport,” said the coach, who is 16-36 with the Roadrunners. “We’re at a high level (in the American Conference). Our expectation is to win, especially coming off (our first year). We thought we were really close. Where we were, I think we finished tied for ninth.

“But a lot of those games were in the balance. You felt like you were closer, in the middle of the pack (in the standings). Certainly, we felt like we did things in the offseason that put us in a position to take a step (forward), and so far we haven’t, right.”

After a 12-19 season a year ago, with a 6-12 record in the American, the Roadrunners are currently 4-17 and 0-9, respectively, going into the second half of the conference slate. It’s a nine-game stretch that starts with a road contest against the South Florida Bulls on Wednesday.

“For me, it’s all about figuring out how to improve where you are,” Claunch said. “At the end of the day, when you’ve lost however many we have in a row, and your record is where it is, you deserve to get those questions.

“Trust me, I hope everybody’s frustrated, fans … we want to win. We’re here to win and we’re here to win championships at UTSA. That goal is never going to change. So, that’s certainly still our goal. And, of course, we want that to happen right now.”

Claunch said he doesn’t take being the head coach of the Roadrunners lightly.

“It’s a privilege anywhere you’re a head coach in the country,” he said. “There’s only 365 of these things. So you better have an urgency every time you come in here, to figure out how to take the next step.”

The next step is figuring out how to slow down the high-scoring Bulls, now 14-8 and 6-3, who average a league-best 89 points per game.

Led by first-year coach Bryan Hodgson, the Bulls play a crowd-pleasing style. In conference, they have scored triple figures once, in a 109-106 double-overtime home loss to UAB, and they have twice notched 90 or more in wins at Tulsa and Tulane.

UTSA will travel with the second-longest active losing streak in the nation, but Claunch is a competitor, and he wants more than anything to lead off the second half of the conference slate with a victory.

Asked what it would mean to him, to win at South Florida a few days after he has fielded questions about whether he thinks he’ll be given a chance to return in his job next season, Claunch answered carefully. He said the South Florida game is not about him.

“I don’t think about it in terms of my job security,” Claunch said. “I think about it more for these (players). The way they’ve been working, they certainly deserve to finish the regular season on a high note. The way they’ve worked and continued to fight.

“And so, South Florida, North Texas, East Carolina, Wichita (State), whoever it is, we want to continue to work and win as many games as possible and see where that puts us here in the next nine games. It doesn’t really have anything to do with me.

“We knew that this was a process and we knew that we had an uphill battle. And, certainly, I love to coach. And I’m going to show up and be who I am every single day. Right? And these guys (the players) have done the same thing, which is why we believe their success for this program is right around the corner, in some way, shape or form.

“Whether that’s Wednesday or Saturday, whatever it is, these kids will deserve it, and that’s the biggest thing that I’m focused on and why we continue to work the way we do.”

Records

UTSA 4-17, 0-9
South Florida 14-8, 6-3

Coming up

UTSA at South Florida, Wednesday, 6 p.m.
North Texas at UTSA, Saturday, 1 p.m.

Notable

Last summer, after almost all of his roster entered the transfer portal, Claunch and his staff re-stocked the roster with 10 new scholarship athletes. Vasean Allette, the top player recruited out of the portal, has not played and is out for the year for personal reasons.

Three others, Macaleab Rich, Stanley Borden and Pierce Spencer, have all sat out long stretches of the season with injuries. Rich and Spencer are out for the season. With only half the conference slate to be played, Claunch said it’s possible Borden will be redshirted.

Focusing on ‘TNT,’ the Rice women beat UTSA, extending their winning streak to 14

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Rice Victoria Flores, Hailey Adams. Rice beat UTSA 65-55 in American Conference women's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Rice forward Hailey Adams (right) cheers on guard Victoria Flores. While Flores scored 33 points, San Antonio’s Adams supplied 15 rebounds, three assists and two steals. The redshirt junior from Clark High School also hit a clutch fourth-quarter jumper. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Rice Owls women’s basketball coach Lindsey Edmonds stood in the foyer of the UTSA Convocation Center Saturday afternoon, smiling and taking selfies with friends.

A crowd of her program’s supporters lingered in the building where the Owls had just defeated the Roadrunners, 65-55. It was clearly a group of people basking in the glow of a 14-game winning streak, a 19-3 record overall and a 9-0 mark in the American Conference.

Damara Allen. Rice beat UTSA 65-55 in American Conference women's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Sophomore Damara Allen led the Roadrunners with 11 points on four of 14 shooting from the field. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Edmomds shrugged off a reporter’s question about how it felt to be riding such a streak and to be unbeaten in conference play at the halfway point of the schedule.

“Our logo for this year, our theme, is TNT,” Edmonds said. “Which is, today, not tomorrow. And I think we just want to take advantage of every day. Every opportunity that we have, we want to be the best versions of ourself.

“I’m not really concerned or worried or even thinking about records or streaks,” she added, “because I’m thinking about how we can be the best version of ourselves today. We were able to come up here and get a win on the road at a place that’s really, really hard to win.

“So, I’m proud of that.”

Rice’s Victoria Flores led her team offensively, scoring 33 points. She was efficient on every level, making eight of 10 shots from the field, four of six from 3-point range and 13 of 14 at the free-throw line.

Meanwhile, a determined defensive effort by the Owls held the Roadrunners to 29 percent shooting and to five points below their season average as a team. As the Roadrunners fell to a 10-10 record on the season and to 5-4 in conference, they were shut down on seven of 36 from the field in the second half.

At one point in a decisive third quarter, the Roadrunners misfired on 12 shots in a row. It’s arguable that the Owls were successful because they were able to expose weaknesses in an offense that sometimes seems too dependent on only a few reliable shooters.

“We have to help them,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said. “I’ve been saying that. If I had the answers, trust me, I would help them. But we’ve got to figure out how to help those players, and they have to sometimes be comfortable with moving the ball, because they’re not getting the looks they get on certain days.”

As the second half of the conference schedule looms, the Roadrunners are healthier than they were a few weeks ago, but they still have five scholarship players out.

“I know Karen Aston and I know she is an incredible coach,” Edmonds said. “I know that she is coaching them up. I think they’re a tough team. I think they have qualities instilled in them by Karen. Again, they’re going to win a lot of games.

“They’re tough … and they’re stingy on the defensive end. I think she’s still going to do a great job despite having the injuries.”

Guards Damara Allen and Ereauna Hardaway led the Roadrunners offensively, combining for 21 points. Allen finished with a team-high 11 on four of 14 shooting. Hardaway’s 10 points came on a three of nine effort.

Cheyenne Rowe. Rice beat UTSA 65-55 in American Conference women's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA scoring leader Cheyenne Rowe produced nine points on three of 11 shooting from the field. She also pulled down eight rebounds. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Forward Cheyenne Rowe, UTSA’s offensive leader, shot three of 11 from the field and finished with nine points and eight rebounds.

A late spark in the game came from freshman guard Adriana Robles, who scored nine off the bench. Robles was four for seven, the only UTSA player to shoot better than 50 percent in the game.

Idara Udo, in her second game back after sitting out more than six weeks with an injury, had a tough day. The 6-foot-1, low-post forward missed all seven shots from the field and scored two.

Records

Rice 19-3, 9-0
UTSA 10-10, 5-4

Coming up

UTSA at UAB, Tuesday, 6 p.m.

First half

In a battle of heavyweights within the American, both the Owls and the Roadrunners pushed the pace in the first half.

Rice took a 31-28 lead at intermission, with Flores scoring 14 points and senior center Shelby Hayes adding nine. The Owls had an advantage with a 12-4 lead in points scored off turnovers.

Notable

UTSA entered the season as the defending conference champions. Last year, the Roadrunners finished 26-5 and 17-1 in the American. The Owls had a hand in dashing their NCAA postseason dreams by beating them 62-58 in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. After Saturday’s loss, Aston told reporters that she wasn’t thinking about last season.

Flores, a junior from Duncanville, was the talk of the game played in front of 1,172 fans. But Rice forward Hailey Adams also played a major role in the victory. The 6-foot-1 junior from Clark High School produced 15 rebounds, three assists and two steals. She also scored five points, including a big shot in the fourth quarter.

“Hailey Adams does Hailey Adams things, that no one else on our team can do,” Edmonds said. “She fills up the stat sheet in a way that’s really, really impressive. She didn’t make a ton of shots tonight, but she made one in the fourth quarter that was crucial.

“We really needed it in the worst way, and she stepped up and shot that shot with confidence.”

Rice Victoria Flores. Rice beat UTSA 65-55 in American Conference women's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Rice guard Victoria Flores sank eight of 10 shots from the field and finished with a career-high 33 points in a 65-55 win at the UTSA Convocation Center. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA women prepare to host the conference-leading Rice Owls

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Idara Udo. UTSA beat North Texas 66-64 in American Conference women's basketball on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA forward Idara Udo came off the bench for eight points and four rebounds Wednesday in a two-point victory over North Texas. Udo had been out since Dec. 15 with a lower-leg injury. – File photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Boosted by the return of forward Idara Udo, the UTSA Roadrunners women will host the Rice Owls on Saturday afternoon, hoping to take down the leaders in the American Conference title race.

On Wednesday, Udo played for the first time since Dec. 15 and provided a steadying influence on the team in holding off the North Texas Mean Green, 66-64.

The 6-foot-1 junior from Plano, who had been sidelined with a lower leg injury, scored eight points and pulled down four rebounds in nine minutes.

“The biggest thing is, she has experience,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said. “Even in those last timeouts, she’s a voice that’s been there and done it before. So I think (it’s) just the confidence that we have in her, because she’s experienced and she understands those moments.”

Another factor is that Udo’s return to active status gives the team 10 scholarship players and the strategic flexibility that another post player provides.

Rice coach Lindsay Edmonds. UTSA women's basketball beat Rice 67-58 in American Athletic Conference action at the Convocation Center on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Rice is 18-3 and 8-0 in conference play under Coach Lindsay Edmonds. – File photo by Joe Alexander

Also, it might take some pressure off Cheyenne Rowe, who has led the team all season in scoring and rebounding but has probably had to play more minutes than coaches would like.

“It’s been a challenge rotationally for us,” Aston said. “Having her back allows everybody to sort of stay in their position. It allows Cheyenne to get some breaths.

“But, I also think that in the midst of that, our two young players (Emilia Dannebauer and Sanaa Bean) have gotten better.

“That’s exciting, because if we can get everybody in a rotation and stay healthy, then we have a chance to have an inside game that can be effective. I mean, (Cheyenne) was huge tonight but we just can’t depend on her every night.”

For the Roadrunners, defeating the Owls won’t be easy, even with Udo back in the lineup. Rice has won 13 games in a row and has forged a 16-1 record in its last 17 games.

But in the UTSA camp, players who have been in the program over the past few seasons may have a little more motivation than usual.

In 2024, the Owls entered the American’s postseason event in Frisco as an underdog. The Roadrunners, with forward Jordyn Jenkins returning from injury, were hopeful of winning it after beating the Owls in San Antonio on the last day of the regular season.

As it turned out, fourth-seeded UTSA was ousted in the semifinals by East Carolina, while 10th-seeded Rice was on its way to four straight wins, the conference postseason title and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Last season, UTSA swept Rice in two games in the regular season en route to a 17-1 record and the American’s regular season championship.

In the tournament, however, the ninth-seeded Owls ended the No. 1 Roadrunners’ NCAA dreams with a 62-58 victory in the quarterfinals.

Even though Rice reached the finals and lost to the South Florida Bulls, the team’s re-formation over the spring and summer proved to be successful.

Rice brought back veterans Dominique Ennis, San Antonio’s Hailey Adams, Aniah Alexis, Victoria Flores and Shelby Hayes.

Ennis, Alexis, Flores and Hayes average double figures in scoring. Adams, a junior from Clark, ranks as one of the nation’s best rebounders. She also leads the Owls in assists.

Adams is coming off a 10-point, 15-rebound effort in a 65-56 win over Temple. She averages 8.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 34 minutes.

Records

Rice 18-3, 8-0
UTSA 10-9, 5-3

Coming up

Rice at UTSA, Saturday, 1 p.m.
UTSA at UAB, Tuesday, 6 p.m.

Notable

UTSA had won five straight in the series against its in-state rival before falling to the Owls in last season’s American quarterfinals. In the tournament game at Frisco, Alexis had 15 points and nine rebounds, and Ennis had 13 points and six boards. Flores hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help Rice hold on to win. The all-time series is tied 16-16.

UAB surges late to win 83-73, dealing the UTSA men their 14th straight loss

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Brent Moss. UAB beat UTSA 83-73 in American Conference men's basketball on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Junior guard-forward Brent Moss led the Roadrunners with 19 points and seven rebounds. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners battled into the last minute Wednesday night but couldn’t make enough plays in crunch time, falling 83-73 to the UAB Blazers for their 14th straight loss.

A crowd of 1,024 at the UTSA Convocation Center watched as forward Daniel Rivera scored 17 points to lead the Blazers, who improved to 13-8 on the season and to 4-4 in the American Conference.

Oddly, UAB is 4-0 on the road in conference and 0-4 at home. UTSA, meanwhile, fell to 4-17 and 0-9 as Brent Moss produced 19 points and seven rebounds.

Jamir Simpson followed with 18 points, which included a tomahawk dunk in the second half, while Baboucarr Njie added 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

Njie, a 6-6 sophomore from Ohio, has totaled 22 blocks in his last five games.

Jamir Simpson. UAB beat UTSA 83-73 in American Conference men's basketball on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Guard Jamir Simpson scored 18 points on eight of 14 shooting from the field. – Photo by Joe Alexander

The Roadrunners’ losing streak is a school record, and now they are winless in December and January (0-13 combined) with a road game at South Florida set for next Wednesday, Feb. 4, to start the second half of conference.

If there is a silver lining, UTSA has now played competitively deep into the second half in consecutive games for the first time during the skid.

The Roadrunners fell 70-64 last Saturday afternoon. On Wednesday night, they did it again, staying within a few possessions of the Blazers for most of the second half and then taking the lead at 69-68 with 4:06 remaining.

UAB outscored UTSA 14-5 in the last four minutes, with Chance Westry scoring on a drive, followed by Dayjaun Anderson’s corner three to make it an eight-point game with 1:45 remaining.

In the final minute, Roadrunners freshman Kaidon Rayfield sank two free throws with 47.6 seconds left, lifting his team to within four.

In response, UAB scored the last six points on two free throws from Ahmad Robinson and then four straight from Salim London.

“To me, honestly, the frustrating thing is not losing this game tonight,” UTSA coach Austin Claunch said. “The frustrating part of being a head coach is, ‘What could I have done to get these guys playing like this a month ago?’ Because, (if we did) we wouldn’t be where we are (now).”

UAB's Chance Westry. UAB beat UTSA 83-73 in American Conference men's basketball on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Guard Chance Westry, UAB’s leading scorer, hit six of eight from the field and matched his season average with 14 points against UTSA. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Claunch addressed the media, with Moss and Simpson seated at his side.

“These guys played their butts off tonight, led by two guys sitting next to me,” the coach said. “You lose a close game, that’s what basketball is all about. I told our guys. ‘We just got to keep putting ourselves in these situations.’ ”

Records

UAB 13-8, 4-4
UTSA 4-17, 0-9

Coming up

UTSA at South Florida, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.

Notable

The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils have the nation’s longest losing streak at 19 games after falling Wednesday to Southern University of Louisiana, 80-69. UTSA is next at 14, with Air Force sitting on 13.

A case could be made that the Blazers won the game at the free throw line. UAB sank 21 of 32 at the line to 14 of 17 for UTSA. For the Blazers, London, Robinson and Jacob Meyer were all four for four at the stripe.

UTSA center Stanley Borden apparently has a new injury. He sat out his 18th straight game and was on the bench in a walking boot. The 7-foot transfer from Duke has also had a hand injury that has kept him out of most of the season.

First half

Thriving in the mid-range and taking the ball to the basket, the UAB Blazers shot 55.6 percent from the field Wednesday to take a 38-36 lead at halftime on the UTSA Roadrunners.

Forward Daniel Rivera led the Blazers with 11 points, including back-to-back dunks a minute apart near the end of the first 10 minutes.

The Roadrunners played well offensively themselves, getting 11 points apiece from Baboucarr Njie and Brent Moss to stay close.

Even though UTSA trailed, its morale was lifted in knowing that the team has now played well in the first half in two straight games.

It’s not a small accomplishment considering the Roadrunners have lost 13 straight and have been blown out by halftime in several of the losses.

In their last outing, the Roadrunners led the Temple Owls 33-31 at the break. In the end, the Owls rallied to win by six.

Baboucarr Njie. UAB beat UTSA 83-73 in American Conference men's basketball on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Baboucarr Njie produced 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Njie has 22 blocks over his last five games. – Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA women fend off a North Texas rally to win, 66-64

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Damara Allen winning shot.

Sophomore Damara Allen hits a go-ahead jumper in traffic with 13 seconds remaining, giving UTSA a lead it would not relinquish. Just before she made the winning play, she rebounded her own miss and followed it in from 12 feet. Allen finished with six points and five assists. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The UTSA Roadrunners women gave up a 19-point, fourth-quarter lead Wednesday and then pulled out a 66-64 victory over the North Texas Mean Green at the Convocation Center.

On an inbounds play under the basket, Damara Allen followed her own miss and hit a 12-foot jumper with 13.2 seconds left to lift UTSA into a 65-64 lead.

After a timeout, North Texas nearly turned the ball over at midcourt but recovered possession. Andi Schissler missed a 12-footer from the side, and UTSA’s Cheyenne Rowe rebounded.

Rowe hit the second of two free throws with 2.9 seconds left for the final point of the game. North Texas missed a halfcourt heave at the buzzer to end the game, a shot that did not count in the final statistics.

Rowe led the Roadrunners with 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Cheyenne Rowe

UTSA forward Cheyenne Rowe is rewarded with gold ‘cash in’ chain after a 27-point, 11-rebound performance. – Photo by Joe Alexander

“I’m really proud of the team, just from the standpoint that we’ve had a couple of disappointing losses,” UTSA coach Karen Aston said. “Part of those have been rebounding and execution offensively, things we’ve really been working on, trying to get better at.

“For three quarters, we were really, really good at it, and then we obviously fell asleep in the fourth (quarter). Credit to North Texas. They changed some schemes offensively and started attacking on the dribble a little bit more. Started shooting threes.

“We didn’t make any adjustments at all, and that’s on me.”

Records

North Texas 11-10, 5-4
UTSA 10-9, 5-3

Coming up

Rice at UTSA, 1 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners dominated the middle quarters, outscoring the Mean Green 41-17 to take a 46-28 lead into the final period. In the fourth, the teams traded baskets until Rowe hit a layup with 7:57 remaining, boosting UTSA’s advantage to 53-34. From there, it was all North Texas over the next seven minutes. The Mean Green went on a 30-10 run, capped by Mekhia Chase’s three-pointer with 21.5 seconds left. When Chase’s shot splashed, North Texas had a 64-63 advantage.

Individuals

North Texas – Guard Mekhia Chase led the Mean Green with 20 points on seven of nine shooting. Chase scored 13 in the fourth quarter. Andi Schissler added 12 points. Schissler, too, was hot in the fourth quarter when she scored six on two three pointers. Forward Megan Nestor added 11 points and 14 rebounds. Nestor entered as the leading rebounder in the nation. Former UTSA standout Aysia Proctor was held to four points on one for eight shooting.

UTSA – Forward Cheyenne Rowe had a monster game with 27 points and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes. Rowe scored nine points in the second period and eight in the third when UTSA built its big lead. Ereauna Hardaway finished with nine points and five assists. Allen scored six points. She was one for five from the field when she hit the go-ahead bucket at the end. Forward Idara Udo, playing her first game since Dec. 15, contributed eight points and four rebounds in nine minutes. One of UTSA’s major contributors to last year’s championship season, Udo has been sidelined with a lower leg injury.

First half

Shaking off poor shooting early, the Roadrunners dominated the second quarter and rallied into a 26-19 lead.

Rowe led the Roadrunners with nine points, all during a 21-8 burst by her team in the second period.

The Roadrunners suffered through a shaky start, stumbling through the first eight minutes of the game without a field goal. The Mean Green took advantage by assuming an 11-5 lead after the first quarter.

Coming off two straight losses, UTSA finally warmed up by hitting seven of 15 from the field in the second period. Rowe was four for seven during that stretch, sinking two mid-range jumpers with the shot clock winding down.

UTSA’s Udo is on the floor, warming up, ahead of today’s game against North Texas

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA forward Idara Udo could be getting closer to returning to play. Udo, who has had to sit out eight straight games with a lower leg injury, has been upgraded to questionable for today against the North Texas Mean Green.

About 54 minutes before tipoff, she has just emerged from the dressing room, in uniform, to take the floor for warmups.

It’s the first time that the third-year UTSA stalwart’s status has been reported as anything other than ‘out, full game’ since the American Conference opener on Dec. 30. The American started issuing player availability reports this season.

Udo last played on Dec. 15 against Texas A&M-Kingsville. After that game, she was seen afterward wearing a walking boot.

Though UTSA hasn’t mentioned the nature of the injury, the 6-foot-1 junior from Plano sat out games against Columbia, Tulane, Temple, Charlotte, South Florida, Florida Atlantic, East Carolina and Memphis.

UTSA has won four and lost four in her absence. Udo averaged 8.1 points and 7.2 rebounds in her first 10 games. She entered the season projected as second-team, all conference.

Last year, Udo was a major contributor to a record-breaking, American Conference championship season. She played and started all 31 games and averaged 8.7 points and 7.5 rebounds. Udo was the top offensive rebounder in the conference in conference games.

UTSA finished 26-5 overall and 17-1 in the American. This year, the team is 9-9 and 4-3.

UTSA women to host North Texas, nation’s leading rebounder; men aim to stop skid against UAB

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

UTSA will host a couple of American Conference basketball games on Wednesday at the Convocation Center, with the women meeting the North Texas Mean Green at 3 p.m. and the men taking on the UAB Blazers at 7.

Women’s basketball

Game 1 — North Texas at UTSA
3 p.m.

Men’s basketball

Game 2 — UAB at UTSA
7 p.m.

Game 1 at a glance

North Texas (11-9, 5-3) — UTSA fans will have their first opportunity to see Mean Green forward Megan Nestor, who leads the nation in rebounding (13.2) and ranks eighth in the conference in scoring (12.9). A native of St. Lucia in the Caribbean, she made headlines in December with a 34-point, 31-rebound game against Texas Southern. The Wayland Baptist transfer also pulled down 27 boards in North Texas’ 57-53 loss to Tulsa at home last Friday. Another storyline centers on the return of North Texas guard Aysia Proctor to the Convocation Center. The former standout at San Antonio-area Clemens High School played two seasons at UTSA before entering the transfer portal last spring. Proctor leads the Mean Green in scoring (13.6) and steals (1.5). North Texas has lost two of its last three.

UTSA (9-9, 4-3) — Decimated by injuries to six scholarship players, the defending conference champion Roadrunners aren’t playing well. They’ve have dropped three of their last four games and two in a row. After a dispiriting 52-40 loss at Memphis last Friday, fifth-year UTSA coach Karen Aston suggested that the team had “hit the wall,” not playing with the necessary effort or concentration. However blunt the assessment, it rang true, because early in the second half it felt as if UTSA might not finish the game with 35 points. Against a team with only one win in the conference, no less. On the flip side, the Roadrunners will enter the North Texas game with solid upper-class leadership in Cheyenne Rowe and Ereauna Hardaway and talented underclassmen who tend to play better at home. Like Proctor, Hardaway may have added motivation in that she played the past three seasons at North Texas. Rowe averages 12.6 points and 8.8 rebounds, and Hardaway 10.9 points and 5.1 assists.

Game 2 at a glance

UAB (12-8, 3-4) — Sixth-year UAB coach Andy Kennedy has averaged 25 wins over the last five seasons at the program based in Birmingham, Ala. His Blazers reached the NCAA tournament in 2022, out of Conference USA, and in 2024, out of the American. If they hope to reach the 20-win plateau or the national tournament this season, they’ll need to turn it on down the stretch to get there. Knowing Kennedy and his reputation for success, though, it wouldn’t be surprising if his team is ready to make it happen. Lad by guards Chance Westry and Jacob Meyer, the Blazers average 82.4 points a game. Both score 14-plus scorers per night. Three others average 11 points plus. So, they are explosive. Also, they’ve been good lately on the road. UAB is 3-0 in the American in games played away from home. Of course, it’s a mystery surrounds why they are 0-4 in conference at home.

UTSA (4-16, 0-8) — All eyes in the Convocation Center in the night game will be on the home team Roadrunners, who will hit the floor trying to snap out of a school-record 13-game losing streak. Injuries could be a factor against the Blazers as electric sophomore Baboucarr Njie, coming off a 25-point, 10-rebound, 5-block performance last Saturday in a 70-64 loss to Temple, might be limited with his mobility. Njie tweaked an ankle early in the second half in the Temple game. Guard Dorian Hayes also could be affected with shoulder issues. Three players are out for the season, including Vasean Allette, the team’s top offseason pickup out of the transfer portal. Allette is our for personal reasons. Also sitting out are forward Macaleab Rich and guard Pierce Spencer (for the season) and center Stanley Borden (game by game).

Quotable

Second-year UTSA coach Austin Claunch had this to say Monday on a zoom conference:

“I was really happy with the way we played against Temple. Certainly the best we’ve played in the league. I don’t think anybody would debate that. You know, got to finish the first half a little bit better, but still had a halftime lead. They came out with a better three minutes in that second to build that lead to 12. I think that was their biggest second-half lead.

“I was really proud of our group to battle back the way that we did. Got the thing back to one with about seven or eight minutes left. It was just a good college basketball game (with) runs made on each side. They just made a couple more plays than we did. I told our team afterward, it’s hard. That’s the first time we’d been in that situation in league play. We got to put ourselves in more situations like that to finish those games.

“We’re excited for Wednesday. (The Temple game was) certainly something to build off of. (Monday’s) an important day of prep. We’ll get out here and run around a little bit. Have a physical (practice) tomorrow (Tuesday). We’ll build up. (Baboucarr Njie) obviously got hurt the other day. He’ll be fine but he won’t (practice) much (Monday) with his ankle, make sure he’s ready to go by Wednesday. And Dorian (Hayes), obviously, with his shoulder. We want guys getting healthy. So (Monday) will be an important day of prep and have a good one (Tuesday), as well, and come out here and play well Wednesday.”

Correction: A previous version of this report misidentified Aysia Proctor’s high school. Proctor attended Clemens High School.

Temple rallies to win, 70-64, handing the UTSA men their 13th straight loss

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UTSA forward Baboucarr Njie put on a show against Temple with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots. Njie, who joined the program as a walk on in the summer of 2024, has scored 20-plus points twice in his last four games. – Photo by Joe Alexander

By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

The Temple Owls shrugged off a shaky start and rallied behind talented guards Derrian Ford and Jordan Mason for a 70-64 road victory Saturday afternoon, handing the UTSA men their 13th consecutive loss.

With the win, Temple improved its record to 13-7 overall and 5-2 in the American Conference, all while prolonging UTSA’s school-record losing streak. The Owls are 2-0 against the Roadrunners this season after claiming a 76-57 victory on Jan. 3 in Philadelphia.

The Roadrunners, meanwhile, fell to 4-16 and 0-8 despite a mega-performance from forward Baboucarr Njie. The Ohio native, who joined the UTSA program in the summer of 2024 as a walk on, produced career-high 25 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Temple Jordan Mason. Temple beat UTSA 70-64 in American Conference men's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

Temple guard Jordan Mason from San Antonio scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half. Mason played in high school at Clark in the Northside School District. – Photo by Joe Alexander

It was the second 20-plus points scoring effort in the last four games from the 6-foot-6 sophomore from Dayton, who has emerged as one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal season.

Njie started fast and led the Roadrunners to an early 10-point lead. His driving layup into traffic with 11:12 left in the half boosted UTSA into a 23-13 advantage against one of the top teams in the American.

After that, Temple took charge of the game, pulling to within two at halftime and then mounting a charge in the second half that yielded a 12-point lead. Not backing down, UTSA made another push and pulled to within two.

From there, though, Temple manufactured an 11-4 run over the next four minutes to secure the victory. Mason, who played in high school at Clark, about 10 minutes away from UTSA, hit five of seven free throws in the stretch.

His two straight at the line with 41 seconds left essentially put the game away, giving the Owls a nine-point cushion.

“It came down to some late clock execution, and they made more shots and got to the line at a better rate than we did at the end of the game,” Roadrunners coach Austin Claunch told Andy Everett on the team’s radio broadcast.

Claunch applauded Ford and Mason for their play, especially in late-clock situations.

“Veteran guards,” the coach said. “They’ve played a lot of basketball. They do a great job. I think (coach) Adam (Fisher) is doing a great job. That’s why they’re where they are (in the standings).”

Ford, a former high school player of the year in Arkansas, finished with 21 points on seven of 11 shooting from the field. He scored 12 in the second half.

Austin Claunch. Temple beat UTSA 70-64 in American Conference men's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA coach Austin Claunch watched as his team played its best game in months, only to lose by six to the Temple Owls, one of the top teams in the American Conference – Photo by Joe Alexander

Mason, who has played previously at Texas State and the University of Illinois-Chicago, added 18 points.

He erupted for 14 in the second half. Not to be outdone, Temple guard Aiden Tobiason hit two shots down the stretch and produced 15 points.

The Roadrunners had double-figure scoring performances from Jamir Simpson (17 points), Austin Nunez (13) and Brent Moss (12 points and 12 rebounds). On the other hand, five UTSA players went scoreless.

Records

UTSA 4-16, 0-8
Temple 13-7, 5-2

Coming up

UAB at UTSA, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Notable

Mississippi Valley State has lost 18 in a row for the longest losing streak in NCAA Division I this season. UTSA and Air Force are tied for second with 13 straight. The Falcons, from the Mountain West Conference, lost 96-54 at Boise State later Saturday afternoon.

UTSA guard Dorian Hayes, listed in the pregame availability report as questionable to play, went scoreless on 0 for 3 shooting from the field in 26 minutes off the bench.

Temple forward Gavin Griffiths, who scored 23 in a victory over UTSA in Philadelphia on Jan. 3, had a tough day shooting the ball. The Nebraska transfer finished with four points in the rematch, hitting only 1 of 7 from the floor.

San Antonio Spurs guards De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper attended the game.

The Temple-UTSA game in San Antonio originally was scheduled for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday. It was pushed back to noon in hopes that Temple could travel and make it back to Philadelphia ahead of the winter storm.

First half

Led by Njie, the UTSA Roadrunners men played their best half of basketball in months, pushing out to a big early lead and then holding off the Temple Owls late for a 33-31 advantage at intermission.

Njie, a force on both ends of the floor, scored 14 points while also pulling down four rebounds and blocking three shots. In his offensive game, Njie made sure to take the ball inside, hitting six of 11 from the field.

Brent Moss also emerged as a key player with eight points, eight rebounds and a couple of steals, while Jamir Simpson scored eight points on four of eight shooting.

For Temple, Derrian Ford scored nine points and pulled down five rebounds.

Brent Moss. Temple beat UTSA 70-64 in American Conference men's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Convocation Center. - Photo by Joe Alexander

UTSA guard Brent Moss had had one of his best games of the season with 12 points, 12 rebounds and three steals. – Photo by Joe Alexander

Temple at UTSA men set for a noon tipoff today

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By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Both the UTSA Roadrunners and Temple Owls have player availability issues leading into today’s noon tipoff at the UTSA Convocation Center.

Listed as questionable are freshman guard Dorian Hayes for the Roadrunners and guard Gavin Griffiths for the Owls.

Records

Temple 12-7, 4-2
UTSA 4-15, 0-7

Coming up

Temple at UTSA, today, noon
UAB at UTSA, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Notable

The Roadrunners are looking to snap a 12-game losing streak, the longest in school history.